The Trouble With Normal, again

FBI data mining programs target more than just terrorists, DOJ says: Sen. Leahy wants to look into the efforts more thoroughly BY Jaikumar Vijayan July 12, 2007 (Computerworld) -- The FBI is using data mining programs to track everyone from potential terrorists to individuals who file fraudulent automobile insurance claims, according to a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) report filed with Congress this week. (ComputerWorld)

Senator Leahy says it quite well: "the report was four months late and raised more questions than it answered. The report "demonstrates just how dramatically the Bush Administration has expanded the use of [data mining] technology, often in secret, to collect and sift through Americans' most sensitive personal information."

What saddens me, is the number of people, both in and out of the administration that feel this is not only the right thing to do, but see it as something the government must do. After all, if you have nothing to hide. Frankly that sort of argument, which has been debunked by so many, is just getting tired. If you are afraid, then how can knowing the government is reading your email make you feel safer? If they are going to break the law with impunity on such a small thing, what makes you think they will follow it on the bigger issues.